IJCAT - International Journal of Computing and Technology, Volume 3, Issue 9, September 2016 ISSN : 2348 - 6090 www.IJCAT.org 428 Collaborating USSD Platform in Web-Based Student Registration Rajab Philip Muchiri Computer Science Department Egerton University 20115 Njoro, Kenya Abstract - The number of students joining universities is increasing fast congesting existing registration systems. Online registration with student web portals common in many institutions of learning was adapted to solve this problem. Online registration has helped alleviate some of these problems, however it has not entirely eradicated the problem. Long queues and delays are still experienced during registration exercise. The reason is due to the huge number of students trying to access the web simultaneously. Accessing the web through the internet becomes slow and tedious process. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the application of USSD protocol in students registration system. The USSD platform described below is not intended to substitute existing systems, but rather to enhance the reach of facilities to the target users using the most popular and commonly available technology with student populations. Keywords - USSD Protocol, Mobile Communications, SMS. 1. Introduction Information, Communication and Technological (ICT) advances has triggered the transformation in education sector[1]. The number of students joining universities and institutions of higher learning continues to expand in order to sustain in the global competitive environment. Automated service delivery is common in many aspects of administration and management. Administrative duties are evolving quickly from the use of manual to desktop and from desktop to ubiquitous and cellular devices administration. Mobile Service(MS) delivery is the use of mobile wireless devices to provide services. MS delivery is not intended to substitute the existing administration system, but to enhance the reach of facilities to the target users. It presents the alternate means to provide all round the clock services[2]. Hence the primary idea is not to convert all computer based tasks to mobile depended, but to consider how best the mobile phone can be used to strengthen overall administration policy. Mobile technologies (i.e. SMS, USSD, geo-location, etc.) are nowadays used in the domains of citizens’ participation[3], public awareness[4], management of emergencies and crisis[5], provision of public services[6], information, etc. to reach wider population segments (as compared to those currently accessing the Internet). It is well known that mobile phones have become in recent years the most ubiquitous communication device worldwide, with higher penetration rates than the Internet. ICT, as seen in many developed institutions, also facilitates a freer flow of information between institutions and stakeholders and opens up for opportunities for stakeholders to participate more directly in influencing decisions that affect them. From student populations to faculty and staff, nearly every user interaction that is taking place from a desktop browser is also occurring through smaller-screen phones and tablets[7]. From visiting websites, to registering for classes, to checking final grades, people interact daily with educational institutions through mobile devices 2. Methodology 2.1 USSD Protocol USSD is a communication protocol that enables text messages between a mobile phone and applications running on Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) networks[8]. Unlike SMS, USSD provides session- based connections utilizing the signaling channel to send data. Instead of having the store and forward functionality like SMS, it is session oriented, which means that when a user accesses a service with USSD, the session is established and the radio connection stays on until the user, application, or time out releases it therefore providing faster response times for interactive
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Collaborating USSD Platform in Web-Based Student Registration
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IJCAT - International Journal of Computing and Technology, Volume 3, Issue 9, September 2016 ISSN : 2348 - 6090
www.IJCAT.org
428
Collaborating USSD Platform in Web-Based
Student Registration
Rajab Philip Muchiri
Computer Science Department
Egerton University
20115 Njoro, Kenya
Abstract - The number of students joining universities is
increasing fast congesting existing registration systems.
Online registration with student web portals common in
many institutions of learning was adapted to solve this
problem. Online registration has helped alleviate some of
these problems, however it has not entirely eradicated the
problem. Long queues and delays are still experienced
during registration exercise. The reason is due to the huge
number of students trying to access the web simultaneously.
Accessing the web through the internet becomes slow and
tedious process. The purpose of this research is to
demonstrate the application of USSD protocol in students
registration system. The USSD platform described below is
not intended to substitute existing systems, but rather to
enhance the reach of facilities to the target users using the
most popular and commonly available technology with
student populations.
Keywords - USSD Protocol, Mobile Communications, SMS.
1. Introduction
Information, Communication and Technological (ICT)
advances has triggered the transformation in education
sector[1]. The number of students joining universities and
institutions of higher learning continues to expand in
order to sustain in the global competitive environment.
Automated service delivery is common in many aspects of
administration and management. Administrative duties
are evolving quickly from the use of manual to desktop
and from desktop to ubiquitous and cellular devices
administration. Mobile Service(MS) delivery is the use of
mobile wireless devices to provide services. MS delivery
is not intended to substitute the existing administration
system, but to enhance the reach of facilities to the target
users. It presents the alternate means to provide all round
the clock services[2]. Hence the primary idea is not to
convert all computer based tasks to mobile depended, but
to consider how best the mobile phone can be used to
strengthen overall administration policy. Mobile
technologies (i.e. SMS, USSD, geo-location, etc.) are
nowadays used in the domains of citizens’
participation[3], public awareness[4], management of
emergencies and crisis[5], provision of public services[6],
information, etc. to reach wider population segments (as
compared to those currently accessing the Internet). It is
well known that mobile phones have become in recent
years the most ubiquitous communication device
worldwide, with higher penetration rates than the
Internet. ICT, as seen in many developed institutions, also
facilitates a freer flow of information between institutions
and stakeholders and opens up for opportunities for
stakeholders to participate more directly in influencing
decisions that affect them. From student populations to
faculty and staff, nearly every user interaction that is
taking place from a desktop browser is also occurring
through smaller-screen phones and tablets[7]. From
visiting websites, to registering for classes, to checking
final grades, people interact daily with educational
institutions through mobile devices
2. Methodology
2.1 USSD Protocol
USSD is a communication protocol that enables text
messages between a mobile phone and applications
running on Global System for Mobile Communications